High Cheese

Righthander Kyle Kendrick was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley today by the Phillies and righthander Andrew Carpenter was recalled from the Iron Pigs, according to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

Amaro said that Carpenter is heading for the bullpen and hinted that a trade for a pitcher is possible before Saturday when Kendrick was next scheduled to start.

“In the short term this makes us better because we have an extra pitcher in the bullpen," Amaro said. "And that’s what Carpenter’s here to do. We will fill Kendrick’s spot in the rotation, whether it’s from within or outside the organization, we haven’t decided yet.

“Happ is a possibility. He’s somebody we could consider and we have some other balls in the air.”

Poll

In what area have the Phillies most underperformed?

Pitching

Hitting

Managing and coaching

That was followed by this exchange:

Question: It sounds like you’re close to doing something.

Amaro: “I think we know exactly what we’re going to do. I just choose not to tell you.”

Question: So you think a trade is close?

“I think we have an idea what we want to do.”

Kendrick, 25, was 5-4 with a 4.82 earned run average in 20 games (18 starts) this season. Kendrick allowed seven earned runs in five innings in the Phillies' 8-4 loss at St. Louis on Monday night.

Carpenter, 25, was 7-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 18 starts for Lehigh Valley. In the major leagues, he has a 9.45 ERA in one start for Phillies. This is the second recall of the season for Carpenter who was also recalled on April 3. He did not appear in any games before being optioned back to Lehigh Valley on April 8.